Directed by the great Hayao Miyazaki, My Neighbor Totoro is a humble but magical tale of two little sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who meet magical spirits of the forest when they relocate to the countryside. Unlike Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle, which have intricate plots and profound conflicts, My Neighbor Totoro is more slice-of-life, intended to convey childhood wonder rather than deliver a structured narrative.

Hayao Miyazaki’s film My Neighbor Totoro is a slice-of-life masterpiece. | Credit: Studio Ghibli

The film remains one of those ageless Studio Ghibli movies everyone loves, even to the point that Totoro himself represents the face of Studio Ghibli. And yet, in spite of all that love, some viewers, particularly if they’re accustomed to traditional Western storytelling, believe that Totoro isn’t doing much in the way of plot. But why is that? Let’s see.

My Neighbor Totoro: Why do some viewers struggle to relate?...